Chris Robshaw fears more talented English players could head overseas
Chris Robshaw has warned that English rugbyās latest civil war could drive a host of top talent overseas.
The former England captain will swap boyhood club Harlequins for San Diego Legion in January, taking up a two-year adventure in Major League Rugby.
Premiership Rugby, club bosses and players are all at loggerheads amid a financial crisis caused by the coronavirus shutdown.
And Robshaw admitted the coronavirus fallout could see increasing numbers of frontline stars looking to head abroad.
Asked if more English players could start heading overseas, the 34-year-old said: āI definitely think that will open everything up.
āOf course, for me, England was a massive pull. I wanted to play for my country so I wanted to stay here and play for as long as I could for England.
āSince not being involved, that has made looking elsewhere and having another life experience a bit easier.
āIām pretty pleased Iām going Stateside thatās all I can say!ā said Robshaw.
āIām one of the lucky ones, thereās a lot of people at clubs who wonāt get the chance to wear their club shirts again.
šØ Player signing: International superstar and former England national rugby team captain, Chris Robshaw, will join us for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Welcome Chris to the San Diego Legion! ā More details: https://t.co/4WtaehyKhXpic.twitter.com/z8hvYYryme
ā San Diego Legion (@SDLegion) June 17, 2020
āBecause my season where Iām going next wonāt start until January that gives me a window.
āBut of course if Iād gone to France or Japan I might not have had that little bit of closure.
āEven though there wonāt be crowds there, itās allowing me that chance to finish that chapter of my life.ā
Global rugby stands at yet another crossroads, just 25 years into the sportās professional life span.
The world game is closer than ever to an aligned global calendar, with summer rugby again on the agenda for the northern hemisphere.
He captained England 43 times, the most in the professional era and second to only @willcarling š¹@ChrisRobshaw reflects on his first and last matches as skipper ā¬ļø
ā England Rugby (at š ) (@EnglandRugby) June 17, 2020
While shifting the English season continues to polarise opinion even in the corridors of power, Robshaw believes it is now or never when it comes to a bold shift.
āIn terms of summer rugby, I think we played 90 per cent of our games this year in the rain, which was wet and not particularly nice,ā said Robshaw.
āI think if they are ever going to try stuff, they have got a window to try stuff now. If not, weāll stick and continue with the current model.
āFrom what I hear from grass-roots clubs, itās more about that level, in terms of do they have the facilities to water the pitches?
āIs there a health and safety issue, with kids running around on hard pitches?
āOf course, in the Premiership and Championship, pitches can be watered and looked after, so they will be okay, but is there a knock-on effect?
āAs I said, if they are ever going to do it, they have a good opportunity to do it now.ā
Iām thrilled to announce that Iāll be joining the @SDLegion , in the @usmlr for the start of the 2020/2021 season.
Since its inception, the San Diego Legion have established themselves as one of the leading powerhouses of American Rugby.šø @themediabunkerpic.twitter.com/wbJyDtNk2I
ā Chris Robshaw (@ChrisRobshaw) June 17, 2020
Robshaw has spent some 16 years at Quins, leading the London club to the Premiership title in 2012.
The combative back-row forward captained England 43 times, and will head to California next year with plenty of childhood dreams fulfilled.
āIām born and raised in London, itās all Iāve ever known and Iāve only ever played for Harlequins,ā said Robshaw.
āAnd Iām sure at some point in the future weāll come back this way. But while I can have the opportunity and while rugby can allow us that vehicle to try something new, why not?
āFinance hasnāt come into it, Iāve never made decisions in my career based on money. I wanted to try a new league, itās new, itās raw, thereās a bit of excitement to the unknown quantity.
āAnd itās a completely different lifestyle. If I was going to leave one of the best cities in the world, southern California isnāt a bad place to go and live.
āIāve been told to get the surfboard ready, so it will be a little different from Wandsworth, and the hustle and bustle of the tube.ā